MIDDLETOWN, CT (November 19, 2022) - Wesleyan University's Owen Sweet scored short-handed with 27 seconds left in the third period as the Cardinals came back for a 2-1 NESCAC men's hockey win over Tufts University Saturday afternoon at Spurrier-Snyder Rink.
With the Jumbos on a power play, Cardinal Mike Dunderdale blocked a pass in his own end and sent the puck off the boards to Sweet. Collecting it at the Cardinal blue line, Sweet beat two Jumbo defensemen down the ice and stuffed a shot past goalie
Peyton Durand.
Tufts won the ensuing face-off into the Wesleyan zone and pressured the Cardinals, but shots by
Tyler Sedlak and
Harrison Bazianos were saved by Wesleyan's Marc Smith ending the game in the host's favor.
The Jumbos had controlled the first two periods. Freshman
Max Resnick score his fourth consecutive goal to start the season five minutes into the game. Jumbo
Brennan Horn caused a turnover in the Wesleyan end and Resnick was in the right place at the right time. He took the puck, slipped past a Cardinal defender and put his shot past Smith on the far side for a 1-0 Tufts lead.
Tufts would hold that margin throughout two periods. After 40 minutes of play, the Jumbos had killed four Wesleyan power plays and were out-shooting the Cardinals 27-16.
Wesleyan, though, would tie the score 4:25 into the third period. Colin Cobb drew two Tufts defenders while charging into the Jumbo end and sent a pass cross-ice where Wiggle Kerbrat was alone on the left side and scored to even the game at 1-1.
The Cardinals, who had five power-play chances to the Jumbos' two in the game, went on a man-advantage with 6:29 to go in the third. Tufts denied Wesleyan's opportunity again, but then the Cardinals kept heavy zone time following the power play. Durand was sharp making three saves during this stretch.
Tufts would earn its second power play with 1:49 remaining in the third. However, while setting up in the Cardinal zone, Dunderdale made the play that sprung Sweet to win it for the Cardinals (2-0).
Shots finished 37-26 in favor of the Jumbos, with Smith making 36 saves in the Cardinal cage. Durand stopped 24 shots for Tufts.
The Jumbos (0-2) open their home schedule on Tuesday night at Valley Forum against Babson College at 7 pm.
